The holiday season looks a little different for the famous couple this year, as Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’s Christmas card has taken an unexpected turn. According to PEOPLE, the pair decided to shake up their long-standing tradition after years of coordinating group photos that required approval from all three of their children. This shift marks a new era for their annual holiday greeting, one rooted in humor, practicality, and a desire for simplicity.
Kelly Ripa shared that their adult kids—Michael, Lola, and Joaquin—did not take the change lightly. After realizing they wouldn’t appear in the Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Christmas card, they complained and questioned the decision. But Ripa explained that she grew tired of waiting for them to approve photos every year. This time, she took charge and moved forward without them, embracing a new direction for the family card.
A Cheerful New Direction
@people It’s not the holiday season without a #KellyRipa and #MarkConsuelos Christmas card — and we’re ready to see this year’s unique twist. 👀✨ #DallasCowboysCheerleaders #LivewithKellyandMark #KellyandMark ♬ christmas lo-fi hip hop(1376230) – Jasper Lab
Instead of featuring their children, the couple chose a festive image taken with the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders during a holiday-themed performance on their show. The photo captured a joyful moment, with Consuelos standing in the center, thrilled and fully in the spirit of the season. Ripa noted that he looked happier than he has in any past Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Christmas card, making the choice even more fitting.
This isn’t the first time the pair has swapped out their kids for unexpected stand-ins. One year, when the children weren’t cooperating, Consuelos used a photo with his TV family from Riverdale. The idea worked so well that the couple is already planning next year’s card. As they revealed, they hope to feature a picture with the Rockettes from their upcoming Christmas Sweater show.
Family Traditions Continue
While the Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Christmas card may look different, their holiday traditions at home remain steady. They still enjoy Christmas carol mass, a seafood dinner, and stockings stuffed by Ripa each year. Even though Consuelos jokes that no one appreciates the effort, everyone enjoys the treats on Christmas morning.
Ripa and Consuelos say their kids will return to the card once they have children of their own. Until then, the couple is enjoying this playful season of creative holiday greetings, proving that traditions can evolve while still honoring the joy behind them.